With such sad eyes beneath her hood,

And such poor little feet, all bare!

Her name was EUGÉNIE LA FÈRE.

She used to tell us, - moonlight nights,

When I was at the Carmelites.

NINON.

Ah, then it must be right. And yet,
Suppose for once suppose, NINETTE

Suppose it were not so ?

Suppose there were true men, you know!

NINETTE.

Well, as to that, he must be tall,
Or say, not "tall,” of middle size;
And next, he must have laughing eyes,

And a hook-nose, with, underneath,

O! what a row of sparkling teeth!

NINON (touching her cheek suspiciously).
Has he a scar on this side?

Then he must fence, (ah, look, 'tis gone!)
And dance like Monseigneur, and sing
"Love was a Shepherd": - everything
That men do. Tell me yours, NINON.

NINON.

Shall I? Then mine has black, black hair. . .

I mean he should have; then an air

Half sad, half noble ; features thin;
A little royale on the chin;

And such a pale, high brow. And then,
He is a prince of gentlemen ;-

He, too, can ride and fence, and write
Sonnets and madrigals, yet fight

No worse for that —

NINETTE.

I know your man.

NINON.

And I know yours. But you 'll not tell,

SCENE.

"GOOD-NIGHT, BABETTE!"

"Si vieillesse pouvait ! —

·A small neat Room. In a high Voltaire Chair sits a white-haired old Gentleman.

MONSIEUR VIEUXBOIS.

ВАВЕТТЕ.

M. VIEUXBOIS (turning querulously). DAY of my life! Where can she get?

BABETTE! I say! BABETTE! - BABETTE!

BABETTE (entering hurriedly).

Coming, M'sieu'! If M'sieu' speaks

So loud, he won't be well for weeks!

M. VIEUXBOIS.

Where have you

been?

BABETTE.

Why M'sieu' knows :

April!... Ville d'Avray!... Ma'am'selle ROSE!

M. VIEUXBOIS.

Ah! I am old, — and I forget.

Was the place growing green, BABETTE?